Nigeria: Babcock University in Nigeria Performs First Heart Surgery

Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State recorded another milestone last Thursday, as the first heart surgery was performed in the institution’s Teaching Hospital, by its doctors. The operation lasted six hours.

The first beneficiary of this feat in the history of the university is a 34-year-old woman, who brimmed with exceptional spirit as she calmly walked through the door with gaiety into the theatre for a life saving venture in the human hands of cardio thoracic surgeons, Professor Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Michael Sanusi, Dr. Mudashiru Lawal and Dr. Edward Anderson, all resident doctors.

According to the institution, there are other 15 critical care personnel in the operating theatre to provide specific required services. They included perfussionists, cardiac operations nurses, internists and anesthesiologists.

Friday’s surgery was a milk valve replacement. Yesterday, another set of patients’ hearts received care from the surgeons’ hearts that care. Dozens of other patients are on the roll call and will have their turn as scheduled from now at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

The senior vice president of the university, Professor Iheanyichukwu Okoro, who is also a surgeon said, “So, what is going on now at the Tristate Heart and Vascular Centre of the University is not the last of such operations until all afflicted hearts are rid of that which prevents their effective functioning.”

Okoro and the institution’s Vice president, development and strategy, Mr. Olukunle Iyanda, said the medical feat couldn’t have happened at a better time than this. “This is inspirational and praiseworthy; another achievement by God through mortal men.”